HIV/AIDS Complications

Written by the Healthline Editorial Team
| Published on September 8, 2011Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Monti, MD, MPH

Because HIV
weakens the immune system, it makes an infected person very susceptible to
various opportunistic disease, cancers, and viruses that take advantage of
weakened immunity.

Antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV can also cause
serious medical complications, such as abnormal fat distribution, abnormal
lipid and glucose metabolism, and bone loss.

Common Opportunistic Infections

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB)
is the most common opportunistic infection associated with HIV. For people with
healthy immune systems, tuberculosis does not cause as great a danger as those
suffering from a weakened immune system. TB affects the lungs or central
nervous system and travels through the air, making it very easy to contract. Learn more about tuberculosis.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis (also known as salmonella food poisoning) is a bacterial infection contracted through contaminated food
or water, causing diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and chills.Learn more about salmonella.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)is a
herpes virus transmitted through saliva, blood, urine, semen, and breast milk.
In a healthy person, CMV can remain dormant, but in a person with a weakened
immune system, CMV can cause damage to the eyes, digestive tract, lungs, or
other organs. It is a highly feared HIV-associated infection because it can
cause blindness.Learn more about CMV infection.

Candidiasis

Also known as “thrush,” this infection can affect the mouth and throat or
vagina, causing inflammation and a thick white coating on mucous membranes. This
infection can also get into the bloodstream and be very dangerous to people
with HIV.Learn more about thrush.

Toxoplasmosis

This parasitic infection is often spread through cats or contaminated water
or meat. A person with a healthy immune system can keep the parasite from
causing illness. However, in the case of a compromised immune system, toxoplasmosis
can cause brain defects, blindness, and damage to the central nervous system.Learn more about toxoplasmosis.

Opportunistic
Cancers

HIV weakens the
immune system, making a patient vulnerable to certain cancers. It is important to detect early signs of
cancers, before they progress too far to be treated and produce untreatable
negative effects on the body. The most
common AIDS-related cancers include:

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

Kaposi’s sarcoma is most commonly associated with people infected by HIV.
It is a tumor of the blood vessel walls, which usually manifests as pink, red,
or purple lesions on the skin and mouth. These tumors may also infect a person
internally on the digestive tract or lungs. It is believed to be caused by a
virus known as HHV-8.Learn more about Kaposi's sarcoma.

Lymphoma

This cancer, originating in the white blood cells, usually begins in the
lymph nodes, causing swelling in an infected neck, armpit, or groin. Learn more about lymphoma.

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